YM keep pushing for glory

Published:11:00Friday 22 April 2016

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Hawick YM’s quest for redemption has ‘zero margin’ for error as the race for the National Reserve Division 2 title and promotion nears its climax.

Almost exactly one year ago, Hawick YM solemnly walked off Dalziel Park after suffering a devastating 44-0 loss to Dalziel that resulted in YM being relegated from BT National Division 3, marking the end of a four-year spell in Scotland’s top rugby divisions.

That pain was only amplified further by the sound of their relegation rivals – both teams needed a bonus-point win to secure safety – celebrating with unbridled joy in the adjacent changing room.

The loss left YM’s short- and long-term future as an independent club hanging by the thinnest of threads. The club eventually finalised a merger with Hawick RFC during the summer and became the Premiership side’s second XV.

Fast forward a year, and the team sit second in Reserve Division 2, after losing just a single game all season, and have two games to catch leaders Currie, on Saturday away to Aberdeen Grammar and at home against GHA in the season finale, to secure the title and promotion.

“The goal at the start of the season was always promotion and we are in a good place to get that done but frankly we want the title as well,” said YM stand-off Mathew Douglas.

“We are so close to getting some silverware after a long, hard season. If you’d had said to me this time last year we would be in a position like this in 12 months, I wouldn’t have believed it. We could barely manage to get 13 players on the pitch last year but now we have 17 to 20 boys out there most nights training hard. It’s been a fantastic turnaround.

“That said, we have zero margin for error from now on if we want to achieve our ultimate goal.”

Douglas added: “Currie are still on top and GHA are level with us after they beat Currie last weekend so it is crucial we get the win on Saturday.”